International Assistance for Implementing the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects: Case Study of the South Pacific

Over the years, different Pacific island countries have felt the destabilizing effects of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to varying degrees. The impact of SALW on Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands has been, and for Papua New Guinea continues to be, devastating on local populations. Although SALW is not typically associated with the islands of the South Pacific, the mere presence of a few small arms, or even rumours of their presence, is enough to displace families and communities and fuel the demand for SALW.